“Sentimental Ornamentation” brings expressions of grief to the gallery
“Sentimental Ornamentation” is one of three exhibitions currently on display through April 8 at The Fed Galleries at Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD). Curated by Michele Bosak, the exhibit juxtaposes antique objects associated with 19th century mourning practices, with contemporary interpretations by seven artists/designers and two design collectives.
Today we consider death to be inherently dirty, something to be avoided, and mourning something of an emotional indulgence, but this has not always been true.
During the 19th century, interaction with death was more pervasive, life expectancy was much shorter, and the death of children was not uncommon. In the 20th century, experience with death became sanitized, with many details handled by institutions and professionals. We’re likely to die in a hospital, our corpses quickly shuttled to funeral homes to be groomed and dressed. There has been a similar dynamic regarding the experience of birth. Instead of pregnancy being regarded as a natural condition, there have been periods in modern history that its been regarded as an illness. Babies were “delivered” in a hospital, mothers were anesthetized, infants whisked to the nursery. As a consumer product, funerals align more closely with weddings than births. Both industries notably playing upon the emotions or ego of those involved in order to secure higher sales.
The most compelling aspect of this exhibit is not the works themselves, but the questions they prompt regarding our ideas about human bodies, behavior, and protocol, particularly as it relates to death.
Antique items include two caskets, hair wreaths, a few photographs, articles of clothing, and mourning jewelry. Brooches, earrings, pendants, lockets, necklaces, and hair ornaments are made from a variety of materials, including jet, vulcanite, cameos, tiny photographs, and even human hair.
Interspersed with these objects are artworks that respond to the experience of grief. There are several interpretations of mourning veils and death masks. The exhibit included many photographs: a large diptych photo of plaited hair, pictures of black mourning jewelry, and possibly contemporary post-mortem portraits.
The space is uncharacteristically crowded, presumably an intentional allusion to Victorian domestic interiors, or traditional conventions of museum display in that era. Instead of didactic labels, an information pamphlet is now available for visitors. Those who wish to know the media, techniques, and artists’ names will want to locate the pamphlet to avoid frustration.
Among my favorites are several small plaques that appear to be intarsia woodwork, but are made with hair, arranged to resemble the faceted surface of gemstones — a clever reference to mourning jewelry made of hair. As something issued from our bodies, hair is regarded as abject, repulsive, something that should be politely disposed of, not carefully collected and hand-crafted into household decorations or personal adornment. This reconsideration of its place as precious object or art object make these pieces of particular interest in this exhibit—an exhibit that draws our attention to the objects of grief and death, rather than avoiding them.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
THIS Thursday March 16
Artist Talk with Renee Zettle-Sterling and Performance by Yuni Kim Lang
Location: The Fed Galleries @ KCAD
Performance begins at 4:30, brief talk after
Zettle-Sterling Artist talk starts at 5:30
April 8 at 6 p.m.
Closing reception for all exhibitions
Location: The Fed Galleries @ KCAD
“Sentimental Ornamentation” can be seen through April 8, 2017.
Admission is free and open to the public.
The Fed Galleries at KCAD
17 Pearl St. NW
Woodbridge N Ferris Building
Gallery Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Friday, Saturday 12–4 p.m
